Mr Key said the drive-in's remote location meant punters could experienced things that would not happen anywhere else.

"It is so quirky out here. You can be sitting and watching a movie and you can see comets or missile testing from the Woomera [testing range]. We're close enough to see a bit of that happening," he said.

"The [lack of] light pollution here compared to anything else. So many other drive-in cinemas are in a big town or in the city, so to be able to have these great, dark nights means you are going to get the best quality drive-in experience."

More than just a drive-in

Coober Pedy is a five hour drive from its nearest beach, does not have a bowling alley, and struggles to maintain regular sporting events.

Mr Key said it meant the theatre was much more important than a novel pastime.

"Without it, Coober Pedy would be a harder and harder place to stay," he said.

"There's lots on for tourists, and for new people in town there's so many exciting things to do the first time you roll into Coober Pedy.

"But as far as having something that's ongoing and changing all the time and a link to what you might be doing if you were in the cities or the bigger towns — especially for our young people — there isn't a whole lot else to do.

"There are a lot of people that come every week and this is the time they go out with their friends.

"They catch-up go out for dinner beforehand and it becomes a real social centre for Coober Pedy."